The irrational foundations of the university mind continue to reveal themselves in the Penn State wrongdoing. The removal of Paterno’s statue — and the prospective removal of the Paterno name from the university library — have been joined by the NCAA’s decision to take away 112 Penn State football victories earned on the field. I am neither a fan nor hostile to Penn State, but it strikes me as absurd to rewrite history to make believe that reality can be overcome by a committee vote.
In addressing the possible removal of the Paterno name from the library the family helped to fund, one reader — Frank — asked whether the university would also be returning the money it received from the Paternos. After all, if the Paterno name is besmirched and to be sent down the memory hole, wouldn’t the money also be tainted? Shouldn’t Penn State act out of principle and refuse to benefit, monetarily, by keeping some of the earnings this man received during this fourteen year period?
